System and method for providing digital media content with a conversational messaging environment

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing access to digital media content within a conversational messaging environment, through the use of a conversational agent, generally referred to as a “bot”. A media content bot leverages a user&#39;s interaction with the bot, to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or more recommended items of media content that are appropriate for the user and/or their interaction. The recommended media content can be provided to the user, or to a media device, in the form of a link, playlist, or other type of reference by which the user can stream, download, access, or otherwise use the recommended media content. In accordance with various embodiments, the media content bot and media server can support atypical or other user inputs in addition to text inputs, for example the use of emojis, and respond accordingly.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DIGITAL MEDIACONTENT WITH A CONVERSATIONAL MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT”, Application No.62/345,679, filed Jun. 3, 2016; which application is herein incorporatedby reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Today's consumers enjoy the ability to access a tremendous amount ofmedia content, such as music and videos, using a wide variety of mediadevices. Digital media content environments, for example those providedby media streaming services such as Spotify, are ideally suited todelivering media content to users in a way that addresses the individualpreferences of each user. To accomplish this, any user feedback or otherinput provided by the user is helpful in determining the appropriatemedia content for that user. These are some examples of the types ofenvironments in which embodiments of the invention can be used.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for providing access to digital media content within aconversational messaging environment, through the use of aconversational agent, generally referred to as a “bot”. A media contentbot leverages a user's interaction with the bot, to access a mediaserver, which in turn can determine one or more recommended items ofmedia content that are appropriate for the user and/or theirinteraction. The recommended media content can be provided to the user,or to a media device, in the form of a link, playlist, or other type ofreference by which the user can stream, download, access, or otherwiseuse the recommended media content. In accordance with variousembodiments, the media content bot and media server can support atypicalor other user inputs in addition to text inputs, for example the use ofemojis, and respond accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary digital media content environment, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of media content with a conversationalmessaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of media content with a conversationalmessaging environment, which supports the use of emojis, in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, digital media content environments, for examplethose provided by media streaming services such as Spotify, are ideallysuited to delivering media content to users in a way that addresses theindividual preferences of each user. To accomplish this, any userfeedback or other input is helpful in determining the appropriate mediacontent for that user.

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for providing access to digital media content within aconversational messaging environment, through the use of aconversational agent, generally referred to as a “bot”. A media contentbot leverages a user's interaction with the bot, to access a mediaserver, which in turn can determine one or more recommended items ofmedia content that are appropriate for the user and/or theirinteraction. The recommended media content can be provided to the user,or to a media device, in the form of a link, playlist, or other type ofreference by which the user can stream, download, access, or otherwiseuse the recommended media content.

In accordance with various embodiments, the media content bot and mediaserver can support atypical or other user inputs in addition to textinputs, for example the use of emojis, and respond accordingly.

Digital Media Content Environments

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary digital media content environment, inaccordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment, a mediadevice 102, operating as a client device, can receive and play mediacontent provided by a media server system 142 (media server), or byanother system or peer device. In accordance with an embodiment, themedia device can be, for example, a personal computer system, handheldentertainment device, tablet device, smartphone, television, audiospeaker, in-car entertainment system, or other type of electronic ormedia device that is adapted or able to prepare a media content forpresentation, control the presentation of media content, and/or play orotherwise present media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, each of the media device and the mediaserver can include, respectively, one or more physical device orcomputer hardware resources 104, 144, such as one or more processors(CPU), physical memory, network components, or other types of hardwareresources.

Although, for purposes of illustration, a single client media device andmedia server are shown, in accordance with an embodiment a media servercan support the simultaneous use of a plurality of client media devices.Similarly, in accordance with an embodiment, a client media device canaccess media content provided by a plurality of media servers, or switchbetween different media streams produced by one or more media servers.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media device can optionallyinclude a touch-enabled or other type of display screen having a userinterface 106, which is adapted to display media options, for example asan array of media tiles, thumbnails, or other format, and to determine auser interaction or input. Selecting a particular media option, forexample a particular media tile or thumbnail, can be used as a commandby a user and/or the media device, to the media server, to download,stream or otherwise access a corresponding particular media content itemor stream of media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media device can also include asoftware media application 108, together with an in-memory client-sidemedia content buffer 110, and a client-side data buffering logic orsoftware component 112, which can be provided as software or programcode that is executable by a computer system or other processing device,and which can be used to control the playback of media content receivedfrom the media server, for playing either at a requesting media device(i.e., controlling device) or at a controlled media device (i.e.,controlled device), in the manner of a remote control.

In accordance with an embodiment, a connected media environment logic orsoftware component 120, which can be provided as software or programcode that is executable by a computer system or other processing device,can be provided at the media device, either as part of the mediaapplication, or separately, for example as a firmware, to enable themedia device to participate within a connected media environment (e.g.,a Spotify Connect environment) that enables a user to control theplayback of media content at such controlled devices.

In accordance with an embodiment, the client-side data buffering logic,together with the media content buffer, enables a portion of mediacontent items, or samples thereof, to be pre-buffered at a client mediadevice. For example, while media options are being prepared for displayon a user interface, e.g., as media tiles or thumbnails, their relatedmedia content can be pre-buffered at the same time, and cached by one ormore media devices in their media content buffers, for prompt andefficient playback when required.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can include anoperating system 146 or other processing environment which supportsexecution of a media server 150 that can be used, for example, to streammusic, video, or other forms of media content to a client media device,or to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can provide asubscription-based media streaming service, for which a client mediadevice or user can have an associated account and credentials, and whichenable the user's media device to communicate with and receive contentfrom the media server. A received media-access request from a clientmedia device can include information such as, for example, a networkaddress, which identifies a destination media device to which the mediaserver should stream or otherwise provide media content, in response toprocessing the media-access request.

For example, a user may own several media devices, such as a smartphoneand an audio speaker, which can play media content received from a mediaserver. In accordance with an embodiment, identifying informationprovided with a media-access request can include an identifier, such asan IP address, MAC address, or device name, which identifies that themedia-access request is intended for use with a particular destinationdevice. This allows a user, for example, to use their smartphone as acontrolling device, and their audio speaker as a controlled device towhich media content should be sent. The media server can then send therequested media and/or forward the media-access request to the audiospeaker, even though the request originated at the user's smartphone.

In accordance with an embodiment, one or more application interface(s)148 can receive requests from client media devices, or from othersystems, to retrieve media content from the media server. A contextdatabase 162 can store data associated with the presentation of mediacontent by a client media device, including, for example, a currentposition within a media stream that is being presented by the mediadevice, or a playlist associated with the media stream, or one or morepreviously-indicated user playback preferences. The media server cantransmit context information associated with a media stream to a mediadevice that is presenting that stream, so that the context informationcan be used by the device, and/or displayed to the user. The contextdatabase can be used to store a media device's current media state atthe media server, and synchronize that state between devices, in acloud-like manner. Alternatively, media state can be shared in apeer-to-peer manner, wherein each device is aware of its own currentmedia state which is then synchronized with other devices as needed.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, when the destinationmedia device to which the media content is being streamed changes, sayfrom a controlling device to a controlled device, or from a firstcontrolled device to a second controlled device, then the media servercan transmit context information associated with an active media contentto the newly-appointed destination device, for use by that device inplaying the media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, a media content database 164 caninclude media content, for example music, songs, videos, movies, orother media content, together with metadata describing that mediacontent. The metadata can be used to enable users and client mediadevices to search within repositories of media content, to locateparticular media content items.

In accordance with an embodiment, a server-side media content bufferinglogic or software component 180, which can be provided as software orprogram code that is executable by a computer system or other processingdevice, can be used to retrieve or otherwise access media content items,in response to requests from client media devices or other systems, andto populate a server-side media content buffer 181, at a media deliverycomponent or streaming service 152, which can be similarly provided assoftware or program code that is executable by a computer system orother processing device, with streams 182, 184, 186 of correspondingmedia content data, which can then be returned to the requesting deviceor to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, a plurality of client media devices,media server systems, and/or controlled devices, can communicate withone another using a network, for example the Internet 190, a local areanetwork, peer-to-peer connection, wireless or cellular network, or otherform of network. For example, a user 192 can interact 194 with the userinterface at a client media device, and issue requests to access mediacontent, for example the playing of a selected music or video item attheir device, or at a controlled device, or the streaming of a mediachannel or video stream to their device, or to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user's selection of a particularmedia option can be communicated 196 to the media server, via theserver's application interface. The media server can populate itsserver-side media content buffer at the server 204, with correspondingmedia content, 206 including one or more streams of media content data,and can then communicate 208 the selected media content to the user'smedia device, or to a controlled device as appropriate, where it can bebuffered in a client-side media content buffer for playing at thedevice.

In accordance with an embodiment, and as further described below, thesystem can include a server-side media gateway or access point 220,provided as software or program code that is executable by a computersystem or other processing device, or other process or component, whichoperates as a load balancer in providing access to one or more servers,for use in processing requests at those servers. The system can enablecommunication between a client media device and a server, via an accesspoint at the server, and optionally the use of one or more routers, toallow requests from the client media device to be processed either atthat server and/or at other servers.

For example, in a Spotify media content environment, Spotify clientsoperating on media devices can connect to various Spotify back-endprocesses via a Spotify “accesspoint”, which forwards client requests toother servers, such as sending one or more metadataproxy requests to oneof several metadataproxy machines, on behalf of the client or end user.

Conversational Messaging Environments

In accordance with an embodiment as described herein, a conversationalmessaging environment is generally a computer-based environment whichcan be accessed online or via a network, and which supports the use of asoftware conversational agent, sometimes referred to as “chatterbot” or“bot”. The bot enables a conversation-like interaction with a user, and,during the interaction between the user and the bot, simulates how ahuman participant might respond or otherwise behave as a conversationalpartner in response to input from the user.

Bots can be provided in a variety of computer-based environments and usecases, for example as part of an Internet-based sales or customerservice environment, and can vary in their complexity of execution.

For example, depending on the particular use case, a bot can beconfigured to simply scan for particular keywords within a text receivedas user input during a conversation with the bot, and then respondaccordingly to those keywords.

Alternatively, a bot can be configured to employ a form of naturallanguage processing (NLP), to extract semantic or other usefulinformation from the conversational text, and provide a more complexresponse. For example, the bot can leverage an NLP library or engine,such as the wit.ai bot engine, which effectively converts a naturallanguage input into a structured data.

Examples of conversational messaging environments which support the useof bots include Facebook Messenger, which provides an instant messagingservice that enables text and voice communication by a user, and whichintegrates with other features of the Facebook environment. TheMessenger environment claims to support approximately 900 millionmonthly active users, and includes a Messenger Platform functionalitywhich allows third-party software developers to create bots that provideother functionalities, which can then be provided to and interact withusers within the Messenger environment.

Use of Media Content with Conversational Messaging Environments

In accordance with an embodiment, access to digital media content can beprovided within a conversational messaging environment, through the useof a media content bot, which leverages a user's interaction with thebot, to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or morerecommended items of media content that are appropriate for the userand/or their interaction.

The recommended media content can be provided to the user, or to a mediadevice, in the form of a link, playlist, or other type of reference bywhich the user can stream, download, access, or otherwise use therecommended media content.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of media content with a conversationalmessaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment, aconversational messaging environment 240 enables a conversationalmessaging application 242 to be used by a user, to interact with theconversational messaging environment 244. As described above, examplesof conversational messaging environments include Facebook Messenger.

In accordance with an embodiment, the conversational messagingenvironment can provide a bot store 250, which operates as a shelf ofone or more available bot(s) 252, which can be selected and installed254 by a user, to their user environment 256.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, the store of availablebots can include a media content bot 260, which includes and operatesaccording to a bot conversation logic 262. Once installed, the mediacontent bot can be used to provide access to a media contentenvironment, from within a conversational messaging environment.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment, themedia server can include an application program interface (API), forexample a recommendation API 270, which is accessible, e.g., via a HTTPURL, and which provides access to a recommendation engine 272, which inturn, as described in further detail below, can be used to provide mediacontent recommendations in response to interactions or conversationswith the media content bot.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment, the mediacontent bot enables a bot interaction 280 by the user with the bot.Depending on how the media content bot is configured, it can act in areactive manner, awaiting input from a user, or can act proactively,sending messages to the user in the manner of a push-notification.

In accordance with an embodiment, during the interaction with the mediacontent bot, the bot can access the media content environment 290, viathe recommendation API, and provide interaction information 292, to therecommendation engine, for its use in determining a media contentrecommendation 294, and, if appropriate, populating 296 the mediadelivery component or streaming service with the appropriate recommendedmedia content 298.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment, atappropriate points during a conversation by the user with the mediacontent bot, and in response to communicating the interactioninformation via the recommendation API, as input to the recommendationengine, the media server can return 300 to the media content bot, aspart of the conversation or other interaction with the user, a mediacontent recommendation 302, in the form of a link, playlist, or othertype of reference by which the user can stream, download, access, orotherwise use the recommended media content.

FIG. 5 further illustrates the use of media content with aconversational messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in accordance with an embodiment, once thelink, playlist, or other type of reference to access the recommendedmedia content has been returned to the user as part of the interaction,it can be processed in the usual manner by the user's media device, torequest 304, that the recommended media content be returned either tothe media device or to a controlled device, for playback at that device.

In response to receiving such a request, the media server can stream orbuffer the recommended media content 306.

For example, the media content bot can be configured to parse a streamof input text for, e.g., an artist name, such as the user indicating “Myfavorite artist is Rihanna”. The artist name can be passed from themedia content bot to the recommendation API. The resultant informationreceived from the recommendation API can be in the manner of aconversation, e.g. “Thanks, do you want to hear some new tracks fromRihanna?”, and can return a link, playlist, or other type of referenceto that item of media content, for example, as:

https://open.spotify.com/track/01G6a8O85SXIH05upi DN1N

Playing the Media Content

As described above, in accordance with an embodiment, the media servercan return, as part of a conversation with a user, a media contentrecommendation, to the media content bot, to be included as a link,playlist, or other type of reference to access the recommended mediacontent.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media content bot can operateanonymously, or can perform an authentication or account verification,for example, to indicate the user as a Spotify user. Depending on howthe bot is configured, when a link, playlist, or other type of referenceto an item of media content, is returned to a user's media device, thedevice can be either directed to a landing page, e.g., in a Web browser,or a device application (app); and either request the user to log in, orplay the songs anonymously without requiring a login.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the media content bot is providedwithin the context of a connected media environment, such as the exampledescribed above, the bot can also prompt the user, for example, whetherthe recommended media content should be played on the user's mediadevice, or at another, e.g., controlled device.

Example Recommendation API Functions

As described above, in accordance with an embodiment, the media servercan include an application program interface (API), for example arecommendation API, which provides access to a recommendation engine,and which as described in further detail below, can be used to providemedia content recommendations in response to interactions orconversations with the media content bot.

In accordance with various embodiments, other types of APIs can be used,to provide other types of functionality, including providingrecommendations based on various criteria, or to address other usecases, for example:

Create a playlist from an artist: (for example, as accessible by a URLat http://static.echonest.com/enspex/web/ArtistBrowser/), which,provided an interaction information input of a seed artist, returns anindication of similar artists.

Create a set list playlist: (for example, as accessible by a URL athttp://static.echonest.com/SetListener/), which, provided an interactioninformation input of a particular artist's show, returns a playlist forthat show.

Learn about a genre: (for example, as accessible by a URL athttp://static.echonest.com/GenreBrowser/), which, provided aninteraction information regarding a particular genre, returnsinformation describing that genre.

Create a seamless playlist between two artists: (for example, asaccessible by a URL at http://static.echonest.com/frog/), which,provided an interaction information indicating two artists, returns aplaylist reflecting those two artists.

Mixtape of local artists for a road trip: (for example, as described athttp://labs.echonest.com/CityServer/roadtrip.html), which, provided aninteraction information of geographic starting and ending points,returns a playlist of local artists located between those two points.

Example Notifications

As described above, in accordance with an embodiment, in addition tosupporting a conversation-like interaction, the media content botincludes support for providing notifications to the user, that reflectthe user's usage of the conversational messaging environment, examplesof which can include:

Notification: “Hey, your new Discover Weekly is cooked, and ready for aspin. Here you go:”

(Charts) Notification: “We've a new Number 1 at the top of the globalcharts. Want to know what it is?”

(1st song) Notification: “Hey! Did you know that the first track youlistened to on Spotify was ‘Baby’ by Justin Bieber? I promise I won'ttell anyone though!”

(Scrape Facebook events) Notification: “I saw you're hitting the “BeachTime” party with your friends this weekend, need a playlist?”

(Scrape concert activity) Notification: “Did you enjoy that concert lastnight as much as we did? Here's the set list.”

Example Statistics

As described above, in accordance with an embodiment, in addition tosupporting a conversation-like interaction, the media content botincludes support for providing statistics to the user, that reflect theuser's usage of a digital media content environment, examples of whichcan include:

Top Played: “Did you know you've listened to Rihanna—Diamond more thananyone else in the world? Tweet this (link)?”

1st Played: “Did you know you were the first Spotify user ever to listento Rihanna—Diamonds. Tweet this (link)?”

“Want to know which artist you've listened to most?”

Support for Emojis

In accordance with various embodiments, the media content bot and mediaserver can support atypical or other user inputs in addition to textinputs, for example the use of emojis, and respond accordingly.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, when an emoji is sent bya user to the media content bot, and forms part of the interactioninformation, the bot can return a corresponding song. Different sets ofemoji's and songs can be, for example, regional-based, or country-based.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of media content with a conversationalmessaging environment, which supports the use of emojis, in accordancewith an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment, the mediacontent bot can recognize emojis, such that the bot interaction cansupport the use of text or emoji input by the user. The recommendationengine can include or otherwise associate a particular media contentitem for each particular type of emoji. For example, a first emoji A canbe associated with a media content A, such as a particular song, and asecond emoji B can be associated with a media content B, such as adifferent song.

In accordance with an embodiment, as the user interacts with the bot,the system can return emoji-based media content recommendations 310, forsubsequent use by the user, for example to playback, forward, or usewith other applications.

In accordance with an embodiment, the use of a particular emoji duringthe interaction by the user with the media content bot, can be used todetermine a particular item of media content associated with theparticular emoji, for example:

=“I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)” by the Poison Clan

Examples of the types of association that can be considered for eachemoji include: tracks that provide a good match (e.g.,

=“Eyes Without A Face”, by Billy Idol); playlists (e.g.,

=Metalcore playlist provided by Spotify); and albums (e.g.,

=“Jagged Little Pill”, by Alanis Morissette).

In accordance with an embodiment, emoji's can also be used within asearch query.

Embodiments of the present invention may be conveniently implementedusing one or more conventional general purpose or specialized digitalcomputer, computing device, machine, or microprocessor, including one ormore processors, memory and/or computer readable storage mediaprogrammed according to the teachings of the present disclosure.Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilledprogrammers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will beapparent to those skilled in the software art.

In some embodiments, the present invention includes a computer programproduct which is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium(media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be used toprogram a computer to perform any of the processes of the presentinvention. Examples of storage mediums can include, but are not limitedto, floppy disks, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive, andmagneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flashmemory devices, magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems (includingmolecular memory ICs), or other types of storage media or devicessuitable for non-transitory storage of instructions and/or data.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention hasbeen provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseforms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent tothe practitioner skilled in the art.

For example, while the techniques described above generally illustrateexamples such as a music streaming service such as Spotify, and streamedmusic or song content, the systems and techniques described herein canbe similarly used with other types of media content environments, andother types of streamed data or media content.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with various modifications that are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system that provides access to digital mediacontent within a conversational messaging environment, comprising: oneor more computers, including a media server executing thereon which canreceive requests from media device clients for media content; aconversational agent provided within a conversational messagingenvironment, and operating as a media content bot, which includes andoperates according to a logic adapted to support an interaction with auser, and in response to the interaction with the user, access the mediaserver, for use in determining one or more recommended items of mediacontent; and wherein the recommended media content is provided to atleast one of the user, or a media device, in the form of a link,playlist, or other type of reference by which the user can stream,download, access, or otherwise use the recommended media content.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the media content bot includes support forproviding notifications to the user, that reflect the user's usage ofthe conversational messaging environment.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the media content bot includes support for providing statisticsto the user, that reflect the user's usage of a digital media contentenvironment.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content bot andmedia server supports atypical or other user inputs in addition to textinputs, for example the use of emojis, and respond accordingly.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein each emoji or a plurality of emojis can beassociated with a particular item of media content, and wherein use of aparticular one or more emoji during the interaction by the user with themedia content bot, is used to determine a particular item of mediacontent associated with the particular one or more emoji.
 6. A method ofproviding access to digital media content within a conversationalmessaging environment, comprising: providing, at one or more computers,a media server executing thereon which can receive requests from mediadevice clients for media content; providing a conversational agentwithin a conversational messaging environment, and operating as a mediacontent bot, which includes and operates according to a logic adapted tosupport an interaction with a user, and in response to the interactionwith the user, access the media server, for use in determining one ormore recommended items of media content; and providing the recommendedmedia content to at least one of the user, or a media device, in theform of a link, playlist, or other type of reference by which the usercan stream, download, access, or otherwise use the recommended mediacontent.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the media content botincludes support for providing notifications to the user, that reflectthe user's usage of the conversational messaging environment.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the media content bot includes support forproviding statistics to the user, that reflect the user's usage of adigital media content environment.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein themedia content bot and media server supports atypical or other userinputs in addition to text inputs, for example the use of emojis, andrespond accordingly.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each emoji or aplurality of emojis can be associated with a particular item of mediacontent, and wherein use of a particular one or more emoji during theinteraction by the user with the media content bot, is used to determinea particular item of media content associated with the particular one ormore emoji.
 11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium,including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed byone or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform thesteps comprising: providing, at one or more computers, a media serverexecuting thereon which can receive requests from media device clientsfor media content; providing a conversational agent within aconversational messaging environment, and operating as a media contentbot, which includes and operates according to a logic adapted to supportan interaction with a user, and in response to the interaction with theuser, access the media server, for use in determining one or morerecommended items of media content; and providing the recommended mediacontent to at least one of the user, or a media device, in the form of alink, playlist, or other type of reference by which the user can stream,download, access, or otherwise use the recommended media content. 12.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, whereinthe media content bot includes support for providing notifications tothe user, that reflect the user's usage of the conversational messagingenvironment.
 13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein the media content bot includes support for providingstatistics to the user, that reflect the user's usage of a digital mediacontent environment.
 14. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 11, wherein the media content bot and media serversupports atypical or other user inputs in addition to text inputs, forexample the use of emojis, and respond accordingly.
 15. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, whereineach emoji or a plurality of emojis can be associated with a particularitem of media content, and wherein use of a particular one or more emojiduring the interaction by the user with the media content bot, is usedto determine a particular item of media content associated with theparticular one or more emoji.